Women & beasts

Tap an example word to hear it pronounced.

On'yomi (音読み) is the reading borrowed from Chinese, usually used in compound words, e.g. 三月 (さんがつ, March).

Kun'yomi (訓読み) is the native Japanese reading, used when the kanji stands alone or takes kana endings, e.g. 三つ (みっつ, three items).

By convention the readings list writes on'yomi in katakana (シュ) and kun'yomi in hiragana (さけ). Example words show furigana in hiragana, so the same on'yomi can look like シュ in the list but しゅ in a word.

Blue - the main radical the kanji is filed under in dictionaries.

Green - a component that hints at the meaning.

Orange - a component that hints at the reading (sound).

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Grey - another building block, with no clear meaning or sound role.

#1

Meaning

authority, dignity, threat

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

おど(す)

Example words
威力いりょく

power, might

権威けんい

authority

威圧いあつ

intimidation, coercion

#2

Meaning

marriage, wedding

Components

On'yomi

コン

Example words
結婚けっこん

marriage

婚約こんやく

engagement

新婚しんこん

newlywed

#3

Meaning

surname, family name

Components

On'yomi

セイ | ショウ

Example words
姓名せいめい

full name

旧姓きゅうせい

maiden name

百姓ひゃくしょう

peasant, farmer

#4

Meaning

slave; guy (derogatory)

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

やつ

Example words
奴隷どれい

slave

売国奴ばいこくど

traitor

守銭奴しゅせんど

miser

#5

Meaning

strange; exquisite, clever

Components

On'yomi

ミョウ

Kun'yomi

たえ

Example words
微妙びみょう

subtle, delicate

巧妙こうみょう

skillful, clever

絶妙ぜつみょう

exquisite, superb

#6

Meaning

daughter; young woman

Components

Kun'yomi

むすめ

Example words
一人娘ひとりむすめ

only daughter

看板娘かんばんむすめ

poster girl (of a shop)

箱入り娘はこいりむすめ

sheltered daughter

#7

Meaning

seize, capture, catch

Components

On'yomi

カク

Kun'yomi

え(る)

Example words
獲得かくとく

acquisition, gain

捕獲ほかく

capture, catch

漁獲ぎょかく

fishing catch, haul

#8

Meaning

go mad; be crazy about

Components

On'yomi

キョウ

Kun'yomi

くる(う)

Example words
熱狂ねっきょう

wild enthusiasm, frenzy

狂気きょうき

madness, insanity

狂うくるう

to go mad; to go wrong

#9

Meaning

narrow, cramped

Components

On'yomi

キョウ

Kun'yomi

せま(い) | せば(める)

Example words
狭義きょうぎ

narrow sense

偏狭へんきょう

narrow-minded

狭いせまい

narrow, cramped

#10

Meaning

hunt

Components

On'yomi

シュ

Kun'yomi

か(る) | か(り)

Example words
狩猟しゅりょう

hunting

狩りかり

hunting; gathering

潮干狩りしおひがり

shellfish gathering at low tide

#11

Meaning

beast, animal

Components

On'yomi

ジュウ

Kun'yomi

けもの

Example words
獣医じゅうい

veterinarian

野獣やじゅう

wild beast

猛獣もうじゅう

fierce animal

#12

Meaning

fierce, violent, brave

Components

On'yomi

モウ

Example words
猛烈もうれつ

fierce, violent

猛獣もうじゅう

fierce animal

猛暑もうしょ

intense heat

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.